While UK firms have been merging with and acquiring Australian firms in droves over the past two years, few US firms have put down roots across the Tasman.
However, US-based global firm Jones Day has just announced it’s opening a new office in Perth as part of its Australian expansion strategy. The new office will open in April and will initially focus on projects and project-related disputes, with an emphasis in the energy sector.
Steve Brogan, Jones Day's managing partner, said the firm continues to believe in the growing importance of Australia to the advancement of the global economy.
“In the next decade, Western Australia in particular will play a critical role in supplying the energy and other commodity needs of Asia…The sheer size and complexity of current and anticipated projects will require lawyers who can anticipate and protect against the inevitable risks and be able to protect clients when unfortunate disputes occur," said Brogan.
When Jones Day opens in Perth, Stephen McComish, a lawyer with 20 years’ of experience in construction, engineering, mining, and oil and gas litigation, will join as partner. McComish was previously a partner at
Allens Linklaters, which he joined in 2004.
The Perth Office will be the US-based firm’s second office in Australia and its 41st worldwide and will make Jones Day the largest American-headquartered law firm to have a physical presence in the city. Rival firms Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance and Squire Sanders also have twin Sydney and Perth offices in Australia.
